Lamp-bulb socket



Feb; 26, 1929. 1,703,626

E. A. KUEN I LAMP BULB SOCKET Filed Feb. 14, 1925 2 Shani-Sheet l INVENTOR,

WQ i ATTORNEY Fehzfi, 1929. 1,103,620

E. A. KUEN mu? BULB SOCKET Filed Feb 14, 1925 Shoots-Shoot 2 PIC-1.6 F|a.7

:9 L f A 4/3/8 J 36 56 7 F1615 1 7' 58 '1 F|c19 I I I I I I 4 2/ 5 7 H- FIG 5 f 4 INVENTOR,

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ATTOQNEV Fatentecl Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE A. KUEN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOS. J. CORCORAN LAMP 00., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

LAMP-BULB SOCKET.

Application filed February 14, 1925. Serial No. 9,326.

The invention herein set forth is particularly designed for those lamp bulbs which have locating pins or a screw-thread on the base thereof and are adapted to beheld in position in their mounting sockets by giving the bulb a rotation. The type of bulb to which the invention is most readily adaptable is that which is used in automobile head lamps, side lamps and tail lamps. Heretofore the sockets for mounting such bulbs have been of the type employing relatively movable yielding terminal contacts which have embodied more or less complicated and expensiveiy constructed spring plungers and the like.

An object of my invention herein described has been to produce a mounting socket in whichno yielding terminal contacts are provided with their attendant complications and expensive construction, and in which the use of expensive tubing body portions are eliminated, as well as in which small pocket size is necessary because of small space limits in devices containing the socket.

These and other objects are attained in the socket construction described in the following specification and illustrated in the accom. panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental perspective view of an automobile lamp embodying my invention, the casing having been broken away to disclose lamp sockets embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the interior elements of the lamp shown in Fig. 1, showing the incorporation therewith of the socket embodying my invention.

Fig.3 is a side elevational view of the socket and attached elements shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the elements shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional elevational view of a different style of lamp from that disclosed in Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of socket embodying my invention.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational View of the interior of the lamp shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational View of the portion of the lamp shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a bottom elevation of the portion of the lamp shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a view of the portion shown in Fig. 8, but at right angles thereto, and with the lamp bulbs removed.

In'the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, the socket is incorporated with a shield or partition 10 which is so shaped and located within the lamp body llas to create two compartments 12 and 13 which contain lens covered open ngs 14 and 15 respectively, in which the respective lamp bulbs 16 and 17 are located for the illumination of the lenses. The partition 10 is mounted by means of a loop .18 on the connector 19 which is-mounted in the back wall of the lamp, and on the forward edge of the partitiontwo spring members 20 and 21 are mounted to act as sockets for the lamp bulbs. These sockets extend rearwardly and are located above and below the rigid contact fingers 22 and 23 of the connector. WVhen no lamp bulbs are mounted in the sockets their normal position is as shown 'in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which they are inclined toward each other. In each socket an opening 24 is provided for receiving the base of the bulb therein, notches 25 and 26 serving to permit the passage of the pins on the base of the bulb. On each side of opening 24 and projecting downwardly are the semicircular flanges 27 and 28. These flanges are shaped so as to start at nothing on each side of the notches '25 and 26 and then rise until the elevation at the center of the flange is of the height desired, as will be ex lained. At this highest point the edge of eac 1 flange in slightly notched or formed with depressions, as shown at 29. This is to permit of a. seating place for the pins 30 on each of the bulb bases 31 when the bulbs are mounted in position as shown, the edges of the flanges being adapted to act as tracks over which the pins of the bulb bases may ride when the bulbs are given a partial rotation after having had the pins passed through the notches 25 and 26 to bring them into position to engage the edges of the flanges.

By placing the base of the bulb in its mounting socket, the pins on the base will pass through the notches 25 and 26 and will be in position to engage the edges of the flanges 27 and 28. By now rotating the bulb until its base pins 30 engage and rest in the flange notches 29, the socket spring 20 or 21 will be flexed from the dotted to the full line position by bringing the bulb terminal 32 into pressure engagement with the connector contact 22 or 23. Thus through the base as one terminal and through the terminal 32 as the other, the bulb is properly placed in the circuit and supported firmly in the socket.

In the form of socket shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, the'san'ie idea is embodied as has been disclosed inFigs. 1 to at inclusive, but, the connector .is provided with spring members 34 and 35 instead of rigidcontacts as 22 and 23 of the previous construction.

The connector 33 is mounted, by soldering or otherwise, in the back of the lamp body 36 so that the body becomes a part of the shell circuit of the connector. For this reason the contacts 37 and 38 are provided in the body for'engagement with bulb terminals 39 when the bulbs are placed in position. T he spring members 34- and 35 are substantially identical with those of the previously described construction in that they have openingsrt) which have notches 11 and 42 to allow the bulb locating pins l3 to pass into engagement with the track like edges of the-flanges ll and 45. The normal position oi these spr 1g members is as shown in Fig. 9, but when the bulbs are placed in position therein, they assume the position shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 thus acting to retain the bulb terminals 39 on the con tacts 37 and 33. Partial rotation of the bulbs to secure them in position with their pins 43 in the flange notches or depressions i6, is provided for as in the previously described construction.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

In combination in a lamp bulb socket, a connector, a relatively rigid contact. on the connector, and a yielding contacton the connector, adjacent to the rigid contact, the yielding contact consisting of a spring plate having an opening therein adapted to receive the base of the lamp bulb, said opening having notches adapted to pass the locating plns of a lamp bulb so that the central terminal of a the plate will be flexed when the bulb base is rotated in the opening to bring its locating pins over the inclined edges of the flanges, the depressions of the flanges securing the pins against displacement from the flange edges at the point of maximum fieXure of the plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed my signature.

EUGENE A. KUEN. 

